Modular shoe system

ABSTRACT

A modular shoe having interchangeable: outer shoe shell, footbed and internal heel collar. The outer shoe shell provisions a full upper secured to an outsole. The footbed provides the primary cushioning for the wearer&#39;s foot, and the internal heel collar is releasably secured to the footbed, the footbed and the internal heel collar presenting a sub-assembly that is mountable within the outer shoe shell. The modular system can include additional components such as tongue extensions and various decoratives.

FIELD

The invention relates to a modular shoe system.

BACKGROUND

Although there are quite a variety of shoe designs commercially available, it is typical for each design to be massed produced in order to spread the cost of development and manufacture over multiple units so that a pair of shoes can be relatively affordable to the average consumer. However, some consumers also crave individuality. To be truly individual one would need to design and manufacture a unique pair of shoes, which would be an expensive undertaking. A modular shoe system which enables a consumer to interchange various parts could overcome that challenge and allow a consumer to express his or her own individuality at a reasonable price point.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a modular shoe is provided which includes an outer shoe shell, an interchangeable footbed, and an interchangeable internal heel collar. The footbed and the internal heel collar each include connectors for releasably securing the footbed and the internal heel collar to one another and forming a partial assembly that is mountable within the unitary outer shoe shell.

The outer shoe shell can include an outsole and an upper, the outsole incorporating a tread, and the upper encompassing anterior, posterior, medial and lateral aspects of a wearer's foot when the shoe is worn.

The footbed preferably provides the primary cushioning for the wearer's foot.

A cinching mechanism can also be provided for securing the shoe on the wearer's foot.

The upper can include a first heel counter and the internal heel collar can include a second heel counter opposed to the first heel counter.

The footbed and the internal heel collar can be connected together by a tongue and groove joint. More particularly, the internal heel collar can include a semi-rigid or rigid socket; a rear portion of the footbed can includes at least a semi-rigid or rigid plate; and one of the socket and the plate can include an elongate tongue while the other of the plate and the socket can include a mating elongate groove, such that, when the tongue is inserted into the groove, the footbed seats into the socket. A reinforcement rib can surround the groove.

The footbed and the internal heel collar can also or alternatively be connected by a snap-fit joint.

The interchangeable internal heel collar can include a high-top style where the internal heel collar features prominently over a posterior topline of the upper and a low-top style where the internal heel collar does not feature prominently over the posterior topline of the upper.

The medial and lateral portions of the upper and medial and lateral portions of the internal heel collar can each include one or more magnets for registering the respective upper portions and internal heel collar portions.

The cinching mechanism can include shoelace eyelets, and the medial and lateral upper magnets can be disposed about medial and lateral posterior-most eyelets.

The upper can include a tongue, and an interchangeable tongue extension connectable to the tongue.

An interchangeable U-shaped decorative can be attached to the internal heel collar. An interchangeable decorative band can be connected to the U-shaped decorative, the band having magnets therein for holding the band in a looped configuration about the wearer's leg when the shoe is worn.

The foregoing modular shoe enables a consumer to interchange various components and/or decoratives, allowing the consumer of the modular shoe to express his or her own creativity and/or individuality at a reasonable price point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will be better appreciated with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a modular shoe system, which employs a first set of interchangeable components according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a sub-assembly of the modular shoe system shown in FIG. 1, the sub-assembly providing a footbed and interior heel collar;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the sub-assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top frontal perspective view of a footbed shown in FIG. 1, in isolation;

FIG. 5 is a top frontal perspective view of the sub-assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top frontal perspective view of an outer shoe shell shown in FIG. 1, in isolation;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the outer shoe shell shown in FIG. 1, in isolation;

FIG. 8 is an opposing side perspective view of the outer shoe shell shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the modular shoe shown in FIG. 1, in assembly;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the modular shoe shown in FIG. 1, in assembly;

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of the modular shoe shown in FIG. 1, in assembly, with additional decorative accoutrements;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the modular shoe system, which employs a second set of interchangeable components according to a second embodiment that may be interchanged with similar components of the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a partial exploded, partial assembly view of the modular shoe shown in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is an assembly view of modular shoe shown in FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-11 show a modular shoe system 10 (which may be abbreviated herein as ‘modular shoe’ or simply ‘shoe’) according to a first embodiment which utilizes a plurality of interchangeable components to provide an athletic or athletic-style shoe 10. Instantiations of these components may have different colours, textures, decorative features, and manufacturing details. FIGS. 12—_ show the modular shoe 10 according to a second embodiment, which can use the same or similar components as the first embodiment. Instantiations of these components may also have different colours, textures, decorative features, and manufacturing details.

Generally speaking, the modular shoe 10 includes an interchangeable outer shoe shell 12, an interchangeable footbed 14, an interchangeable internal heel collar 16, an optional interchangeable tongue extension 18, and one or more optional interchangeable decoratives 20.

The outer shoe shell 12 provisions an outsole 22, an upper 24, an optional foxing 26, an optional tongue 28 (seen best in FIG. 6), and a cinching mechanism 30.

As shown in the first and second embodiments, the outsole 22 can—and preferably does—include a tread 23. The outsole 22 can be manufactured by adhering two major components: a front outsole piece 22 a and a rear outsole piece 22 b, each of which can have a different tread pattern. The rear outsole piece 22 b can include a flex portion 22 c positioned substantially underneath the foot arch, as provided by a non-treaded thin wall section of the outsole 22. The rear outsole piece 22 b can also include a sidewall 22 d which adjoins the foxing 26. The rear outsole piece 22 b can be transparent, translucent or opaque. The outsole pieces 22 a, 22 b can be formed from rubber via molding operations or any other desired material.

As shown in the first and second embodiments, the upper 24 encompasses a wearer's toes, at least a portion of the foot instep and at least a portion of the hindfoot such that the upper 24 encompasses anterior, posterior, medial and lateral aspect of the wearer's foot when the shoe 10 is worn. As seen best in FIG. 6 of the first embodiment, the upper 24 can be provisioned from a variety of elongate pieces, including an external-environment oriented outer lining 24 j and a comfort oriented inner lining 24 k. The upper 24 provides a toe box portion 24 a, a vamp portion 24 b, and medial and lateral quarters 24 c joined along seam 24 d. It will be understood that the upper 24 can alternatively be formed from a variety of other pieces that are stitched or otherwise joined together, as will be seen in FIGS. 12-14 of the second embodiment. A heel counter, shown by stippled line 24 e in FIGS. 1, 7 & 8, can be incorporated between the outer and inner linings so 24 j, 24 k as to define a generally U-shaped external heel collar 24 f, which provides the upper 24 with rigidity in the posterior region as well as keeping shoe opening 24 g unobstructed. The heel counter 24 e may be omitted if desired.

The upper 24 can be sewn, adhered or otherwise secured to the outsole 22. The foxing 26 can adjoin the upper 24 and the outsole 22. As shown in the first and second embodiments the foxing 26 can encircle the outer shoe shell 12 so as to cover from view the seam between the upper 24 and the outsole 22. The foxing 26 may be shortened in length or omitted altogether.

The tongue 28 can be sewn or otherwise secured to the upper 24 and can include one or more connector portions for attaching the optional interchangeable tongue extension 18 to the tongue 28/upper 24. As shown in the first and second embodiments these connector portions can include snapfit members 28 a (seen best in FIG. 6) and a magnet 28 b (shown in stippled lines) sewn or otherwise embedded between an external-environment oriented outer lining and a comfort oriented inner lining which forms the tongue 28. Any other suitable connector can be used to attach the optional interchangeable tongue extension 18 to the tongue 28/upper 24 such as a hook and loop fastener, laces, or a buckle.

As shown in the first and second embodiments, the tongue 28 can be relatively long and substantially co-extensive with the length of an eyestay 32 a. In alternative embodiments, the length of the tongue 28 may be shortened considerably so that the connection with the tongue extension 18 occurs around the position of anterior-most eyelets 32 b″.

The cinching mechanism 30 can include at least one of a lacing 32 and a strapping 34, seen best in FIG. 6. As seen in the first and second embodiments the lacing 32 can include an eyestay 32 a secured to the upper 24, having eyelets 32 b for accepting shoelaces 32 c. As seen best in FIGS. 6-8 of the first embodiment, the strapping 34 can include a D-ring 34 a connected to the outer shoe shell 12, for example via a flexible tab 34 b fixed to one side of the upper 24. The strapping 34 can include hook and loop type fastening strips 34 c, 34 d for cinching the strap 34 when slotted through the D-ring 34 a to close on itself. In alternative embodiments the lacing 32 and strapping 34 may be omitted and the cinching mechanism provided by a resilient un-bifurcated tongue 28 so as to provide a ‘slip-on’ shoe.

While the flexible tab 34 b holding D-ring 34 a is shown fixed to one side of the upper 24, in alternative embodiments the tab 34 b can be releasably secured to the upper 24, for example, by way of hook and loop fasteners, snap fits, a buckle or hooks. This will enable the wearer to quickly swap tabs 34 b and change the style or colour of the shoe on a whim. The strapping 34 can likewise be releasably secured to the upper 24, for example, by way of hook and loop fasteners, snap fits, a buckle or hooks, enabling the wearer to quickly swap strappings 34, which may stylistically matched with swapped tabs 34, to change the style or colour of the shoe on a whim. The interchangeable tab 34 b and strapping 34 can thus be considered as a form of decorative.

Although the outer shoe shell 12 appears to be a complete shoe, it should be noted that the outsole 22, consisting essentially of the tread 23, and the external heel collar 24 f are relatively thin and unforgiving, not anatomically configured to directly receive the foot. Due to inadequate sole and heel comfort/support the outer shoe shell 12 would be unlikely worn for any extended period of time, particularly not for its intended function as an athletic or casual shoe. The interchangeable footbed 14 and the internal heel collar 16 provide the additional components that make the shoe 10 practical.

The footbed 14 provides the core cushioning for the foot. The footbed 14 can have an anatomically configured superior face 14 a (seen best in FIG. 4) for receiving the typical foot, including a posterior concave hollow 14 b for the inferior portions of the heel, a middle convex formation 14 c for the arch, and an anterior concave depression 14 d for the ball of the foot. As shown in the illustrated embodiments the footbed 14 does not have a covering insole or lining but such a covering may be provided in the alternative. As seen best in FIGS. 1 and 3, the inferior face 14 e of the footbed 14 can be substantially flat to mate with a substantially flat inner surface of the outsole 22, which allows the footbed 14 to slide relatively unhindered into the outer shoe shell 12 over the inner surface of the outsole 22. The footbed 14 can be formed from a resilient material such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyurethane (PU) and can be relatively thick. having a typical thickness from about ½ inch to about 2 inches, especially as compared to the outsole 22, which can have a typical thickness ranging from about ¼ to about ½ inch. Being interchangeable, various footbeds 14 can have different thickness or densities, e.g., soft or hard, to accommodate personal preferences and/or different intended activities, e.g., walking or playing sports. The modular shoe 10 also enables a worn or compressed footbed 14, which typically wears much faster than the outsole 22, to be readily replaced without having to replace the entire shoe.

The footbed 14 includes a connector 40, described in greater detail below, for connecting the footbed 14 to the internal heel collar 16.

As seen in the first and second embodiment, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, the internal heel collar 16 can have sidewalls 16 a and a posterior wall 16 b for collectively cradling the wearer's heel. The internal heel collar 16 can be formed from inner and outer fabric layers with a relatively stiff counter, shown by stippled line 16 c, sewn or otherwise secured therebetween. The shoe 10 thus provides opposed, mutually reinforcing heel counters 24 e, 16 c in the upper and in the internal heel collar, respectively, for resisting rearward forces. The internal heel collar 16 may also include padding in its anterior aspect to increase the wearer's comfort.

The internal heel collar 16 can be provisioned in different, interchangeable, styles. For example, FIGS. 1-3, 5 9 and 10 of the first embodiment show the internal heel collar 16 in a high-top style 16A and FIGS. 11-13 of the second embodiment show the internal heel collar 16 in a low-top style 16B. The modular shoe 10 thus enables the wearer to rapidly and conveniently switch between high-top and low-top styles at his or her convenience without having to purchase an additional shoe.

As seen best in FIG. 9, the high-top style internal heel collar 16A features prominently above the topline 24 h of the upper 24 and can include a band of thicker padding 16 d positioned to envelope the posterior, medial and lateral aspects of the foot above the wearer's ankle when the shoe 10 is worn. The high-top style internal heel collar 16A can include medial and lateral eyelets 16 e (see FIGS. 1 and 6) that can be juxtaposed with the topmost medial and lateral eyelets 32 b′ on the upper 24 for cinching the high-top style internal heel collar 16A with the shoe laces 32 c. If desired, magnets 36 can be secured about the high-top style internal heel collar eyelets 16 e and the upper topmost eyelets 32 b′ in order to releasably align one another. The high-top style internal heel collar 16A can also include additional eyelets 16 f disposed at the terminations of the padding band 16 d for additional cinching of the high-top style internal heel collar 16A with shoe laced 32 c. The high-top style internal heel collar 16A can also include a hook and loop fastener strip 16 g (seen best in FIG. 1) for releasably attaching decoratives as discussed in greater detail below.

As seen best in FIG. 13, the low-cut style internal heel collar 16B features much less prominently above the topline 24 h of the upper 24 and can include the medial and lateral eyelets 16 e that can be juxtaposed with the topmost medial and lateral eyelets 32 b′ on the upper 24 for cinching the low-top style internal heel collar 16B with the shoe laces 32 c.

Regardless of style, the internal heel collar 16 can include a connector 44 (seen best in FIGS. 1-3) for connecting the internal heel collar 16 to the footbed 14. As shown in the illustrated embodiments the connector 44 can include a semi-rigid U-shaped socket 44 a into which the rear portion of the footbed 14 can be releasably seated. More particularly, the U-shaped socket 44 a can feature a bottom wall 44 b and a continuous U-shaped side wall 44 c. The bottom wall 44 b can feature an elongate groove 44 d with a semi-circular entrance aperture 44 e and can also include a U-shaped stiffening rib 44 f surrounding the elongate groove 44 d. The sidewall 44 c can feature a plurality of spaced apart apertures such as medial and lateral apertures 44 g and posterior aperture 44 h. The rear portion of the footbed can have a U-shaped rebate 14 f for receiving the socket 44 a. The footbed connector 40 can include a substantially rigid plate 40 a (seen best in FIG. 1) secured to the inferior face 14 e of the footbed cushioning material. The plate 40 a can incorporate a substantially rigid elongate tongue 40 b terminating in at least a substantially rigid semi-circular wall 40 c disposed generally underneath the arch convex formation 14 c. The plate 40 a can also include a locating lug 40 d and snap fingers comprising medial and lateral cantilever beams 40 e with terminating hook lugs 40 f, which lugs 40 d, 40 f are disposed about the footbed sidewall.

As will be seen best from FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, the footbed tongue 40 b is insertable into the internal heel collar groove 44 d. In the process the footbed locating lug 40 d seats into internal heel collar posterior aperture 44 h and the footbed hook lugs 40 f deflect until they are inserted into internal heel collar medial and lateral apertures 40 g, whereupon the cantilever beams 40 e return to their original shape to releasably lock the footbed 14 with the internal heel collar 16. In this manner the footbed and inner heel collar connectors 40,44 provide a tongue and groove joint as well as snap-fit joint. Once the footbed 14 and interior heel collar 16 are connected to one another the sub-assembly (see, for example, FIG. 2) can then be inserted as a unit into the outer shoe shell 12 whereupon the upper 24 can be cinched tight. The elongate tongue and grove joint in particular ensures that the footbed 14 and internal heel collar 16 are robustly connected to one another and do not disengage in use as the wearer's foot flexes while walking or running.

In alternative embodiments, the male and female aspects of the tongue and groove joint can be reversed with the tongue being located on the internal heel counter and the groove disposed on the footbed plate. Likewise, in alternative embodiments the male and female aspects of the snap fit joint can be reversed with the apertures being located on the footbed and the snap fingers being located on the internal heel collar socket.

The internal heel collar socket 44 a can be colored in which case the color can be visible through the rear outsole piece 22 b if the latter is transparent or translucent.

As seen best in FIG. 1, the tongue extension 18 can include a tab 18 a with snapfit members 18 b that mate with the tongue snap fit members 28 a. A magnet, shown by stippled line 18 c, can be provisioned in the tongue extension 18 to couple with the magnet 28 b in the tongue 28, easing the task of connecting the tongue and tongue extension snapfit members 18 b, 28 a. The tongue extension 18 may be padded, if desired.

The decorative 20 can include a generally U-shaped decorative 20 a having a hook and loop fastener strip 20 b for attaching the decorative 20 a to the hook and loop fastener strip 16 g of the high-top style inner heel collar 16A. If desired, the decorative 20 can include buckle receptacles 20 c on terminating ends thereof. As seen in FIG. 11, a decorative band 46 having buckle clips 46 a can be connected to the receptacles 20 c of the decorative 20 a. The decorative band 46 can include magnets (shown by stippled lines 46 b) thereon so that the band 46 can be held in a looped configuration around the wearer's leg.

From the foregoing it should be appreciated that modular shoe described herein enables a consumer to interchange various components and decoratives to thereby achieve different looks and styles without having to buy a new pair of shoes, allowing the consumer to express his or her own creativity and individuality at a reasonable price point.

It should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein. For example, while the foregoing has described and shown the modular shoe in an athletic style, it will be understood that the modular shoe can embody other styles, such as casual, dress, or any other desired style. Likewise, the invention can include combinations or sub-combinations of the various features described herein as well as modifications, variations and permutations hereto which will occur to persons skilled in the art without departing from the fair meaning of the accompanying claims.

FEATURE LIST

-   10 modular shoe system -   12 outer shoe shell -   14 footbed -   14 a superior face -   14 b heel hollow -   14 c arch formation -   14 d depression -   14 e inferior face -   14 f rebate -   16 internal heel collar -   16A high top style internal heel collar -   16B low top style internal heel collar -   16 a sidewall -   16 b posterior wall -   16 c counter -   16 d padding band -   16 e eyelet -   16 f eyelet -   16 g hook and loop fastener strip -   18 tongue extension -   20 decorative -   20 a U-shaped decorative -   20 b hook and loop fastener strip -   20 c buckle receptacle -   22 outsole -   22 a front outsole piece -   22 b rear outsole piece -   22 c flex portion -   22 d sidewall -   23 tread -   24 upper -   24 a toe box portion -   24 b vamp portion -   24 c quarter -   24 d seam -   24 e counter -   24 f external heel collar -   24 g opening -   24 h topline -   24 j outer lining -   24 k inner lining -   26 foxing -   28 tongue -   28 a snapfit member -   28 b magnet -   30 cinching mechanism -   32 lacing -   32 a eyestay -   32 b eyelets -   32 c shoelace -   34 strapping -   34 a D-ring -   34 b tab -   34 c,d hook and loop fastener strips -   36 magnets -   40 connector -   40 a plate -   40 b tongue -   40 c wall -   40 d locating lug -   40 e beam -   40 f hook lug -   44 connector -   44 a socket -   44 b bottom wall -   44 c side wall -   44 d groove -   44 e entrance aperture -   44 f stiffening rib -   44 g aperture -   44 h aperture -   46 decorative band -   46 a clip -   46 b magnet 

1. A modular shoe, comprising: an outer shoe shell comprising an outsole and an upper, wherein the outsole incorporates a tread, and wherein the upper encompasses anterior, posterior, medial and lateral aspects of a wearer's foot when the shoe is worn; an interchangeable footbed which provides the primary cushioning for the wearer's foot; an interchangeable internal heel collar, wherein the footbed and the internal heel collar include connectors for releasably securing the footbed and the internal heel collar to one another, the footbed and the internal heel collar being mountable within the unitary outer shoe shell; and a cinching mechanism for securing the shoe on the wearer's foot.
 2. A modular shoe according to claim 1, wherein the upper includes a first heel counter and wherein the internal heel collar includes a second heel counter opposed to the first heel counter.
 3. A modular shoe according to claim 1, wherein the footbed and the internal heel collar are connected together by a tongue and groove joint.
 4. A modular shoe according to claim 3, wherein: the internal heel collar includes a semi-rigid or rigid socket; a rear portion of the footbed includes at least a semi-rigid or rigid plate; one of the socket and the plate include an elongate tongue and the other of the plate and the socket include a mating elongate groove, wherein, when the tongue is inserted into the groove, the footbed seats into the socket.
 5. A modular shoe according to claim 4, including a reinforcement rib surrounding the groove.
 6. A modular shoe according to claim 3, wherein the footbed and the internal heel collar are connected by a snap-fit joint.
 7. A modular shoe according to claim 1, wherein the footbed and the internal heel collar are connected by a snap-fit joint.
 8. A modular shoe according to claim 1, wherein the interchangeable internal heel collar includes a high-top style where the internal heel collar features prominently over a posterior topline of the upper and a low-top style where the internal heel collar does not feature prominently over the posterior topline of the upper.
 9. A modular shoe according to claim 1, wherein medial and lateral limp portions of the upper and medial and lateral limp portions of the internal heel collar each includes one or more magnets for registering respective limp portions.
 10. A modular shoe according to claim 9, wherein the cinching mechanism including shoelace eyelets, and wherein the medial and lateral upper magnets are disposed about medial and lateral posterior-most eyelets.
 11. A modular shoe according to claim 1, wherein the upper includes a tongue, and further including an interchangeable tongue extension connectable to the tongue.
 12. A modular shoe according to claim 1, including an interchangeable U-shaped decorative attachable to the internal heel collar.
 13. A modular shoe according to claim 13, including an interchangeable decorative band connectable to the U-shaped decorative, the band having magnets therein for holding the band in a looped configuration about the wearer's leg when the shoe is worn. 